Asthma Expert Kathi MacNaughton shares Asthma management news and commentary at MyAsthmaCentral.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962 http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962 http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962/32105/asthma-mental-illness Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:07:00 -0400 Kathi MacNaughton There's been quite a bit of press devoted to the dangers of depression and suicide lately in regards to asthma. But, of course, a lot of what you read uses sensationalist tactics to grab attention and readers. You can't always believe everything you hear and see in media.   However, there ARE some connections between asthma (and its treatment) and depression, anxiety, and suicide. So, I thought I'd spend time today outlining the facts... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962/32105/asthma-mental-illness http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962/32092/natural-alternatives Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:04:54 -0400 Kathi MacNaughton People who have chronic illnesses often search for what they see as more natural alternatives to asthma medication treatment. It's not that asthma medications are super hard to take, though inhaling a mist or powder is obviously different than just swallowing a pill and does require some skill to get the most out of it. And it's not that most asthma medications are all that harmful or likely to cause bothersome side effects, especially when you... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962/32092/natural-alternatives http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962/30785/weather-aggravate Fri, 13 Jun 2008 02:46:00 -0400 Kathi MacNaughton For the past few years or so, it seems like weather and our climate have been brutal, doesn't it? This summer looks to be no different. Seems like the whole country is either baking, drowning or blowing away!   Back east, where my siblings and other family live, they are suffering with record temps in the 100s, not to mention high humidity. In the south and midwest, it's record flooding that must be dealt with. And in the Dust Bowl, it... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962/30785/weather-aggravate http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962/25630/combination-increased Mon, 12 May 2008 12:30:00 -0400 Kathi MacNaughton Asthma treatment is all about control. Control is the main goal of asthma treatment, as outlined in both the U.S. asthma management guidelines as well as the GINA World Asthma guidelines.   Most people are able to achieve asthma control by taking 1 or 2 puffs of a controller medicine containing an inhaled steroid (such as Flovent and Pulmicort) 1 to 2 times a day. The steroids work over time to reduce inflammation in the airways and... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962/25630/combination-increased http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962/27120/world-achieve-control Tue, 06 May 2008 13:32:50 -0400 Kathi MacNaughton Asthma control is the main goal of asthma treatment. Experts tell us that almost everyone should be able to achieve solid asthma control, with the right treatment. Today is World Asthma Day, as proclaimed by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), and their main message is that "You Can Control Your Asthma."   How do you know if your asthma is under control? Well, it's simple. You'll feel good. Here are the specifics: You can be... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962/27120/world-achieve-control http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962/25628/doctor-asthma-iq Sun, 04 May 2008 12:57:00 -0400 Kathi MacNaughton Solid asthma control is key to your health. Some of the responsibility for that control is yours, in terms of actively avoiding asthma triggers and taking your medication as prescribed. Some of the responsibility also lies with your doctor and his/her expertise in treating asthma.   The American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), an organization dedicated to providing education and support to both patients and healthcare... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962/25628/doctor-asthma-iq http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962/25928/awareness-advocate Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:09:00 -0400 Kathi MacNaughton Allergy & Asthma Awareness Month launches this May 2008. This is a project spearheaded by the Allergy & Asthma Foundation of America (AAFA for short), one of the premier asthma/allergy education and support organizations in the U.S. and one of Healthcentral.com's partners. It's in coordination with World Asthma Day on May 6th.   The intent of these events is to improve public awareness of asthma triggers and allergy triggers,... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962/25928/awareness-advocate http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962/25627/asthma-medication Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:44:54 -0400 Kathi MacNaughton It feels lately like there's always some kind of "bad news" in the headlines about one asthma medication or another. Asthma is a disease that benefits greatly from being treated, but do asthma medications actually do more harm than good?   That's the question you might be asking yourself. After all, just in the past year, we've heard about issues with Serevent and Advair (which is a combination drug that contains Serevent), Xolair, and... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962/25627/asthma-medication http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962/25626/recent-future-climate Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:17:23 -0400 Kathi MacNaughton I'm sure you've heard of global warming, not to mention many of the crazy environmental happenings that people all over the world have been subjected to in recent years, from wild hurricanes, tornadoes, and typhoons, to heat waves and unseasonable cold spells.  Seems like there's always something new to look forward to.   At the same time, the numbers of people who have asthma have been steadily rising with every decade. Less people... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962/25626/recent-future-climate http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962/20307/asthma-website-teens Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:56:00 -0500 Kathi MacNaughton Every teen knows that having asthma might not be that unusual, but it can still make you feel like you're different at times. Whether it's having to bow out of certain activities because they make your asthma "act up" or having to carry around a dorky looking plastic inhaler everywhere you go, asthma can set you apart from friends and classmates. But asthma control is dependent on following the asthma treatment plan... http://www.healthcentral.com/asthma/c/962/20307/asthma-website-teens